Which has higher freedom of expression index, Finland or Sweden?

Finland, at 0.946 against 0.946 in Sweden as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Finland and Sweden?

237 years are reported by both, from 1789 to 2025.

Where does this data come from?

V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Freedom of Expression Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Finland vs Sweden: Freedom of Expression Index

Finland

0.946

in 2025

Sweden

0.946

in 2025

Finland rank

10th

Sweden rank

10th

Freedom of Expression Index over time

Finland
Sweden

How they compare

Finland currently reports 0.946 against 0.946 in Sweden, a difference of 0.

The two have swapped places 6 times across 237 shared years of data; in 1789 it was Sweden ahead.

Finland ranks 10th and Sweden ranks 10th of 176 countries.

Across the 25 decades both report, Finland averaged higher in 4 and Sweden in 19.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Finland	Sweden	Difference	Ahead
1780s	0.438	0.438	0	—
1790s	0.4521	0.4521	0	—
1800s	0.4166	0.4576	0.041	Sweden
1810s	0.26	0.664	0.404	Sweden
1820s	0.26	0.736	0.476	Sweden
1830s	0.26	0.776	0.516	Sweden
1840s	0.26	0.7865	0.5265	Sweden
1850s	0.26	0.797	0.537	Sweden
1860s	0.277	0.797	0.52	Sweden
1870s	0.277	0.797	0.52	Sweden
1880s	0.277	0.797	0.52	Sweden
1890s	0.4114	0.797	0.3856	Sweden
1900s	0.4933	0.806	0.3127	Sweden
1910s	0.4979	0.8145	0.3166	Sweden
1920s	0.7679	0.888	0.1201	Sweden
1930s	0.6852	0.8722	0.187	Sweden
1940s	0.644	0.8461	0.2021	Sweden
1950s	0.9069	0.948	0.0411	Sweden
1960s	0.914	0.9564	0.0424	Sweden
1970s	0.921	0.9612	0.0402	Sweden
1980s	0.9402	0.968	0.0278	Sweden
1990s	0.9762	0.9745	0.0017	Finland
2000s	0.977	0.97	0.007	Finland
2010s	0.9724	0.9709	0.0015	Finland
2020s	0.961	0.9567	0.0043	Finland

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher freedom of expression index, Finland or Sweden?: Finland, at 0.946 against 0.946 in Sweden as of 2025.
What is the difference in freedom of expression index between Finland and Sweden?: 0, with Finland ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Finland and Sweden?: 237 years are reported by both, from 1789 to 2025.
How do Finland and Sweden rank globally for freedom of expression index?: Finland ranks 10th and Sweden ranks 10th of 176 countries.
Where does this data come from?: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Freedom of Expression Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Finland vs Sweden: Freedom of Expression Index. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 07 November 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/freedom-of-expression-index/finland/sweden/

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About this data

Indicator: Freedom of Expression Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 30,035 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 30 October 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which people can discuss political matters at home and in the public sphere, the press, and media are free and can present different political perspectives, and the freedom of academic and cultural expression.